Ski & Fitness Glossary

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I

I.S.I.A.
The International Ski Instructors Association, an organization that represents ski instructors from over 36 skiing nations.

I.S.P.O.
Internationale Sportartikelmesse (International Sports Equipment show), held in Munich every year, and regarded as the world-wide trendsetter for ski equipment and clothing.

Inclination
Of the body as a whole relative to the snow.

Initiation
Silly instructor's jargon for 'start', such as in 'initiation of a turn'.

Internal obliques
Muscles that run upward and inward from the hip bones to the lower ribs, allowing you to rotate and bend at the waist. These are located underneath the external obliques. These muscles are used when you paddle a kayak.

Interski
An international ski instructor’s conference (Alpine & Nordic) held every four years and organized in conjunction with the International Ski Instructors Association (ISIA).

Intervals
Speed workouts, usually run on a track, with distances and target paces decided before you run. They typically consist of relatively short sprints of 220 yards to 1 mile interspersed with rest periods of slower running.

Isometrics
Exercise or a system of exercises in which opposing muscles are so contracted that there is little shortening but great increase in tone of muscle fibers involved.